Plowing-machine.



1. W. MESSLER.

PLOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15, 19:4.

Patented June 6, 1916.

I v i Elbtowwq JOHN W. MES SLER, 0F C HARITON, IOWA.

PLOWING-MACI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed December 15, 1914. Serial No. 877,408.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. MEssLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chariton, in the county of Lucas and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plowing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to sulky or riding plows and its main object is to provide a plow structure of this nature which is capable of lighter running than the present types so that it will require less draft for operation.

In a sulky plow built in accordance with my invention, as compared with one of the present type which is capable of the same work, but two draft animals are required instead of three, and at the same time, I may mount the mold board for plowing at a greater depth.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a plow structure of the nature set forth having but two supporting wheels, which are preferably rather large in size, a plow and a beam balanced with respect to the axis of the wheels, means to fasten the plow beams for adjustment to balance it as may be necessary upon shifting the position of the wheels, and a novel means to brace the wheel support against improper movement and at the same time to relieve the draft on fastening elements of the machine and also absorb shocks when the wheels engage stones or other obstacles in their track.

WVith a view to attaining the foregoing objects as well as additional objects, aswill become apparent from the description hereinafter following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts.

In said drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved plowing ma chine; Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional view through the furrow wheel and means supporting it from the plow frame, and Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view illustrating the connection of one wheel support with the transverse shaft.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or similar parts, the land side wheel is shown at 1 and the furrow wheel is shown Tby suitable means from a transversely disposed beam or shaft 8. To this end, at one extremity of shaft 3, is rigidly fastened a bracket 4 havinga depending stub 5 on which a vertically movable wheel support 6 is slidably mounted for vertical movement, and which has a box 7 through which the stub directly passes. The support 6 has an inwardly extending lug 8 as best seen in Fig. 2, which lug slides in a vertically elongated slot ,9 on the stub 5. Extending laterally and downwardly from the box 7 preferably integral therewith as shown, is an axle stub 10'having a skein 11 to which the wheel 2 is directly journaled. Any suitable fastening means, for instance the washer and nut 12 may be utilized to secure the wheel 2 on the skein 11. Bracket 1 at its, top terminates'in a segment 13 extending above the shaft 3 and on its periphery being provided with rack teeth 14;. A lever 15 is pivoted to the se 'ment at 16 and has a crank arm 17 pivotally connected to links 18 which in turn are pivotally connected at 19 to the box 7. When the lever 15 is swung in a vertical plane, it will slide the bracket 6 and accordingly move the wheel 2. The lever 15 carries suitable means whereby it may be locked against accidental movement to the segment 13. To this end a plunger 20 is supported from the lever and adapted to engage in the notches formed by the teeth 14. A spring 21 serves to urge the plunger 20 into engagement with the notches. Connected with the plunger is a flexible wire or the equivalent 22 which is also connected to a lever 23 pivoted to the lever 15 at 24. When the lever 23 is moved forms part of a second wheel support, the

remaining parts of which include a crank 28 extending at an angle to arm 27 and an axle portion 29 extending at an angleto the crank 28. On the axle portion 29, wheel 1 is directly ournaled. Any suitable means may be employed to fasten the wheel support 27-2829 against displacement. To this end, the arm 27 may have a collar fastened thereto as at 30 which is overlapped by a flange 31 of a nut 32 having female screw threads to be engaged by male screw threads of a boss or extension 33 of the hub 26. To the arm 27 a lever 34 is rigidly fas-- tened and which is operable to swing the bracket or wheel support 27 -28-29 in a vertical plane to vary the vertical adjustment of wheel 1. Suitable means is employed to lock the lever 34 against accidental movement and to this end rack teeth 34 are provided at the upper edge of segment 25 and between the notches formed by the teeth 34, a plunger 35 is adapted to engage. This plunger is carried by lever 34 and urged into engagement with the notches by a spring 36. A flexible element 37 is connected to the plunger and to a lever 38 pivoted at 39 to lever 34. When the lever 38 is moved rela tively to the lever 34, the plunger 35 will be withdrawn from engagement with the teeth 34 so that the lever 34 may be freely adjusted.

If desired, springs 40 may be connected to either or both levers 15 and 34 and to the shaft 3, to prevent rattling of the levers and connected parts and to further guard against accidental movement of the levers.

From the shaft or beam 3, I support the usual plow beam which is designated 41. This beam has a substantially horizontal portion extending longitudinally of the machine and which leads to a downwardly and forwardly curved portion 42. I rom the end of portion 42, the plow share and mold board 43 is mounted. This share may be of any improved construction. A seat 44 may be supported from the beam 41 if desired, and also a stub 45 may be supported from the beam to which may be attached an ordinary plow disk or colter. As is usual, at

the free end of beam 41 a clevis 46 is fastened so as to form a means for attachment of the draft means.

As intimated at the beginning of this specification, it is a main object of my invention to balance the plow beam and parts connected thereto from ,the shaft 3 so that the draft will be lighter. Also since wheels and their support must be adjusted to accommodate the machine to different condi tions of use, it will be realized that if the beam were stationarily connected to the shaft 3, that this balance mounting would not be present under all conditions. Therefore I provide a suitable adjustable clamp at 47. While the particular construction of this clamp is immaterial, I might mention that it comprises plates 48 one disposed above shaft 3 and the other disposed below beam 41 and through which plates pass bolts 49, one adjacent each corner, which are movably fastened by means of the nuts at 50. It will be apparent that should it become necessary to adjust the beam 41 and parts carried thereby, thatthis result can easily be accomplished upon loosening nuts 50, moving the beam 41 transversely of the shaft 3 to the proper extent for balancing and then tightening the nuts 50.

In plow structures having a plurality of adjustable wheels and adjustable supporting means, it is a fault that the parts usually work loose and rattle. While the rattling is only objectionable as noise, the wearing of the parts incidental to the movement of the parts soon renders the machine less eflicient in operation. For this purpose I aim to provide an effective means which will connect the wheel support against undue movement so as to prevent wearing of the part and thereby prolong the life of the machine. In connection with such means I also aim to permit the supports to yield slightly upon encountering unusual obstacles in the soil, for instance obstacles such as stones. In accomplishing these ends, an eyelet guide member 51 is suitably mounted on the machine, as from the clevis 46, and through which eyelet a flexible wire or the equivalent 52 passes. This wire at one end is fastened to an eyelet 53 of axle portion 29. At its other end, wire 52 is formed into an eyelet 54 by means of which a chain or flexible element 55 is fastened to the wire 52. At the opposite end of chain 55, a strongly tensioned spring 56 is fastened, which is also fastened to a fastening member 57 carried by the bracket 6, specifically box 7 By reason of the provision of the strong spring 56, chain 55, and wire 52 and their connection with the wheel supports, such wheel supports will be supported or braced against undue movement which would result in wear of the parts and these connections reinforce the wheels thereby practically eliminating wavering which would otherwise result in distorting the wheels and also make the plow unsuitable for the short team hitch which may be used with the present construction. Also as these supports necessarily move relatively during adjustment, this brace means must be extensible. Extensibility is afforded through the provision of the strong spring 56. Flexibility of wire 52, permits it to move longitudinally through the eyelet 51. Should the wheel strike unusual obstructions in its path, the spring 56 would permit yielding movement thereof such as would tend to counteract the effect of the incidental shock.

It is to be understood that inasmuch as I have shown only the preferred embodiment of my invention, that changes in the details of construction, arrangement and combina tion of the parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention What I claim is An agricultural implement having soiltreating means, a shaft to support such means, a Wheel adjustably carried at one end of said shaft, a crank axle adjustably car: ried at the other end of said shaft, and elastic means connected with the adjustable part of said first mentioned Wheel and With said crank axle and fulcrumed on said soil-treating means to assist in turning said crank axle in one direction.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

J OHN W. MESSLER.

Witnesses:

S. A. RALsToN, J. A. POGUE.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

